Method and device for driving tubular bodies into the ground by means of fluid jets



PICKMAN METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBULAR BODIES Aug. 25, 1953 INTOTHE GROUND BY MEANS OF FLUID JETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1949Aug. 25, 1953 2,649,694

E.HCKMAN METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBULAR BODIES .INTO THE GROUNDBY MEANS OF FLUID JETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1949 PatentedAug. 25, 1953 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBU- LAR. BODIES INTO THEGROUND BY MEANS OF FLUID JETS Edgard Pickman, Schaerbeek-Brussels,Belgium, assignor to Compagnie Internationale des Pieux ArmsFrankignoul, Socit Anonyme, Liege,

Belgium Application July 22, 1949, Serial No. 106,306 I In France July27, 1948 11 Claims.

7 It is known to sink tubular bodies, such as concreting tubes forbuilding up concrete foun- In the known method, the injectinganddischarging nozzles are. carried by a member that is lowered insidethe tubeand takes up practically the whole of the free cross areathereof, so that the fluid jet device has to be withdrawn beforeconcreting can be initiated, which is prejudicious from" the standpointof the continuity of the process, while excluding the possibility ofpreventing water and underground silt from entering the tube proper. Thesaid method, moreover, does notmake it possible to use the weight of thetube as a load for the injecting device in order to supply the latterwith the desirable reaction. Moreover, the injecting nozzles weredirected axially downward, with a resulting noncontrollable' lateral'underwashing beyond the area of the sinking wellproper, which may bevery prejudicious. This invention has 'for'its object a method and adevice for fluid jet driving a body into the ground, wherein theabovedrawbacks are eliminated. i

The method of the invention is characterized essentially by thecombination of the steps comprising: placing the tubular body over a jetchamber; tightly sealing the said tubular body from the said chamber;injecting into the said chamber a liquid, together-with air if desired,

. through ducts provided outside of the said body; and to discharge theslurry formed in the said chamber through ducts likewise providedoutside the tubular body. Advantageously, a downwardly directed impulseis applied to the whole of the tubular body and the jet chamber duringthe sinking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying themethod into effect, such device comprising essentially an emulsioning orjet chamber open at the bottom, which is provided at the foot of thetubular'body to be sunk and is sealed from the free cross area thereof,while the ducts for injecting the liquid, together with air or a gas ifdesired, and those for discharging the mixture of liquid and thematerial from the scoured gro und,,are arranged around the said tubularbody and extend upwardly therealong. .Conveniently, the injection ductsopen to the jet chamber in a direction transverse to 2 the axis thereof,preferably in a direction substantially tangential to the side wallthereof.

The invention also provides a mechanical connection between the tubularbody and the wall of the chamber, so that the said wall carries theweight of the said body during the sinking, which renders the lattermoreconvenient and expeditious.

The side wall of the emulsion chamber, the diameter of which ispreferably greater than that of the tubular body, may be independentfrom the latter or rendered integral therewith, while the upper wall ofthe said chamber may be independent of the tubular body or beconstituted by the face of a member sealing the free cross area of thelower end of the tube.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification of various embodiments given by way of exampie,with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 are vertical sections showing four steps used in forming aconcrete pile in the ground by means of the device of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 to 8 are vertical sections showing three steps used in forming apile by means of another device in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section on line IXIX of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a part sectional elevation of a further embodiment of theinvention.

. invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view in vertical crosssection of a stillfurther modification of the device of the invention. v

Fig. 19 is a section on line X[XXIX of Fig. 18.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a concreting tube intended tobe driven into the soil is indicated by l and is closed at the bottom bya sealing plug 2, e. g. of concrete which is advantageously fittedtightly in the tube by means of a ring 3 of plastic or elastic material.The plug may be formed in any suitable way,

either I by a separate body applied into the cured to a yoke At thebeginning of the sinking the yoke 4 is placed, with the use ofinterposed members 5, upon a jet driving tube 6, the length of whichsubstantially equals that of the tube l. Thus, a chamber 7, which willbe named jet or emulsion chamber, is formed under the plug 2 in the tube5. In the annular space -8 included between the two tubes there arearranged pipes .9 the upper ends of which are connected to a source ofliquid under pressure, e. g. water, while their lower ends terminate innozzles or mouths It opening into the chamber i, preferably in asubstantially horizontal direction and which is tangential to the wallof the tube 6, or in a more or less radial direction VJhen the aboveassembly is placed on the ground and water injected under pressure inthe chamber 1, the water will disintegrate the surface of the groundthat has penetrated into the tube 6, in forming a slurry that willdischarge upwards through the annular space 8 that opens to the outsideabove the tube 5, e. g. through apertures a provided between theinterposed members 5.

The underwashing of the ground by the jets of water under pressureproduces progressively under the tube a cylindrical sheath of lesserresistance, into which the tube descends under the effect of its ownweight alone or in combined action with either weighting the tube orexerting a downward pull upon the yoke 4. In any case, such weighting ortraction will enable to speed up the sinking.

The sinking is thus continued up to the desired depth, with nodetrimental vibrations taking place as in the case of ramming a pile.Moreover, the jet chamber according to the invention limits theemulsioning of the earth to the clear area of the tube 6, thuseliminating the drawbacks of the known fluid jet driving systems, namelyunderwashing of the ground and undesirably aifecting the coeflicient oflateral friction.

After the requisite depth has been reached, the interposed members 5 areremoved and the tube lowered until the yoke 4 bears upon the tube 6,while the injection of water and, if desired the downward traction, maybe continued during that period. The device now assumes the positionshown in Fig. 2. The tube is still tightly sealed by the plug 2, so thatneither earth nor water or silt have been able to enter it. The plug isthen driven out by applying impacts, by means of the monkey ll (Fig. 3)upon a quantity of concrete poured on top of the plug '2, so as tosecure the sealing of the tube I after the plug has been driven out. Theconcreting of the pile may then be finished in the usual way, e. g. byramming concrete in the ground as the tubes 1 and 6 are simultaneouslyraised, for instance by means of cables attached to brackets 12 providedon the tube 6. The pile may have a reinforcement 13,

- which is positioned after the foot of the pile has been formed, e. g.by inserting it into the tube l or into the space included between thetubes l and B. In the latter case the water pipes 9 must be removablymounted, so that they can be withdrawn when the driving is finished.Fig. 4 shows a finished pile.

Figs. 6 to 9 show a modification wherein the jet chamber is integralwith the concreting tube. The latter, which is indicated by [4, islengthened by a sleeve I5, e. g. welded to the outside of the lower endof the tube I4. The latter is again tightly closed at its lower end by 4a plug I6, e. g. of concrete, and has a seal packing. The sleeve isprovided with openings H for water injection, to which are connectedpipes :s arranged outside the tube i4 and in communication with a sourceof water under pressure, either individually or through the medium of aheader l9. It desired, the mouths ll of the pipes I8 may be cutobliquely in the thickness of the sleeve [5, so as to provide for a moreor less tangential injection. The formed slurry is discharged throughopenings 20 communicating with ducts 2| arranged at the outside of thetube '14 and extending up to soil level, where they "open at a certaindistance beneath the header IS.

The jet driving is carried out in the manner already describedhereinbefore. Further, the plug 16 is driven out by ramming on top ofthe concrete poured into the tube l4, which tube is further withdrawn asthe concreting of the pile proceeds. The concrete will also fill in thecavities formed by the ducts 2|, so as to form a pile of star-like crossarea having so many branches as there are ducts. Such a pile thereforehas a large lateral surface compared with its volume, which ensures astrong frictional adhesion between the pile and the ground.

The downward traction and the raising of the tube may be eifected bymeans of cables attached to brackets 22 integral with the tube.

Instead of sealing the concreting tube from the jet chamber by a plugobturating the tube, such sealing may be achieved by using anindependent jet chamber intended to be left in the ground and having itsupper end closed by a top wall whereupon the concreting tube is bearing.Such a device is shown in Figs. 10 to 12.

In the latter instance the jet chamber 23 has the general shape of acylindrical box having a top wall 24 on which the tube 25 bears, thecentering of the latter being ensured by means of a projection 26provided on the top wall 24. The jet pipes 21 and the discharge pipes28, both provided any suitable number, are arranged outside the box 23.Since the box 23 is intended to be left in the ground, the said pipesshould be connected thereto in a removable manner, so that they can berecovered. To this end the box is provided with sockets having theirupper portions-which are intended to have pipes engaged thereinparallelto the axis of the tube 25, and the assembling may be efiected e. g. byscrewing by a bayonet joint or simply by a frictional fit, means beingused, if desired, to provide for the tightness of the assembly.

In the example shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the jet pipes 21 engage in bentsockets 29 secured to the box 23 and provided, if desired, with nozzles30 arranged approximately tangentially to the wall of the box, while thedischarge pipes 28 are engaged in sockets 31 provided on lateralextensions 32 of the box, in free communication with the jet chambercomprising the latter. The pipes 21, 28 may be held in position againstthe tube 25 by iron fittings 33.

The sinking is efiected in a manner similar to that hereinbeforedescribed with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. Instead of applying to thetube a pull in the downward direction, the tube may be weighted e. .g.by introducing thereinto a quanti'ty of concrete to be used in buildingup the pile. More particularly, the tube 2 5 may be constituted by asheath intended to be left in the groun'd'and completely filled withconcrete, which will be vibrated e. g. during the finishing of the pile.

After the required depth has been reached, concrete is introduced intothe box 23, e. g. is "injected through one of the pipes 21, 2B. Thelatter pipes are then withdrawn, mortar being injected, if desired,through said pipes in order to fill out the gap in the ground resulting.from their withdrawal; The pile is then concreted, e. g. i' the mannerabove described. Ramming of a fir:

batch of concrete may contingently result in driving out the top wall 24of the box, which would only be beneficialto the compression of the footAlternately, and if the tube 25 is a sheath intended to be left in theground, its concrete contents may be vibrated with a view of finishingthe pile; such method being advantageous e. g. for driving piles into ariver. Obviously, the concreting tube need not necessarily be made inonepiece, but may be constituted of lengths assembled to each other as thesinking proceeds. If the tubes are to be recovered, such assembling willbe by screwing. In the case of a sheath to be left in the ground, thetube may be formed of metal sheet members assembled by welding as thesinking proceeds. The latter embodiment is shown in (Figs.-13 to 15which illustrate diagrammatically three stages of forming a pile in ariver bed.

Fig. 13 shows the driving of the first member ainto the river 34, afterit has been placed upon the box 23 and filled with concrete. The secondmember 252) is about to be welded to the former and will also be filledwith concrete. The pipes 21, 28 may, if so required, also be formed insuch a manner that they can be assembled as the sinking proceeds. Whenthe bottom of the river is reached the jet system is started and thesinking is continued up to the required depth. The pile is finished asabove described, with recovery of the'pipes 21, 28 and, e. g. vibrating,the concrete in the sheath intended to be left in the ground.

Figs. 16-17show another embodiment of a jet chamber intended to be leftin the ground. The chamber comprises a box having an open bot- .tom,while its top wall 36 has providedon it a projection 31 for centeringthe tube 38. Outside the latter tube the top wall 36 is. provided withapertures 39, opposite some of which open the sockets of the nozzles 40secured to the box and to which the water supply pipes 4! are removablyconnected. A thin sheath 42, extending e. g. all over the height of thepile, is secured to the box, e. g. by welding. The slurry wells upthrough'the openings 39 and the annular space included between the tube38 and the sheath 42. Any closure may be provided to secure thetightness of the tube, e. g. a gasket 43 upon which the tube 38 ispressed. After the sinking has been effected and concrete injected intothe box 35 the tube 38 is raised and the sheath 42 filled with concrete,which is advantageously vibrated.

I Figs. 18-19 show an embodiment similar to that of Figs. 16-17, but inwhich the jet box is not left in the ground. The concreting tube 44terminates in an enlarged portion 45 forming the jet box and bearingupon an inner flange 46 of a sheath 41 made from metal sheet andintended to be left in the ground, which encircles the portion 45.Openings are provided in the shoulder 49 and enable the passage of thejet pipes 50 and of the slurry discharged through the space includedbetween the tube 44 and the sheath 41. The tube 44 is sealed by a plug5| adapted to be driven out.

In all the above described examples use may be made, in combination withthe injection of water, of a blast of air or other gas directed into theemulsion chamber, especially with view of more 6 efliciently emulsiohingthe slurry mixture andto facilitate discharge thereof by the drainpipes. The blast may be effected through all or some of the waterinjection pipes or through pipes specially provided to this end.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the examplesdescribed and shown, in which there may be made various structuralchanges without departing from the spirit of the invention especially asfar as the number and the relative arrangement of the injection anddischarge pipes and the way of securing the tight seal of the concretingtube are concerned.

What I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming an opening in semisolid material, comprising incombination, a first tube having a pair of opposite open end portions,one of said open end portions being of a larger diameter than theremainder of said tube and being connected to said tube by an annularflange forming part of said tube and extending transversely to thelongitudinal axis of said tube, said annular flange being formed with aplurality of spaced openings; a second tube of a larger diameter thansaid first tube being located about said first tube so as to form anannular passageway between said first and second tubes, said second tubehaving at one end thereof an inwardly extending annular flange uponwhich said one open end portion of said first tube rests; conduit meansextending through said annular passage and said openings in said annularflange of said first tube so as to communicate with the interior of saidopen end portion of said first tube to lead fluid to said open endportion of said first tube; and sealing means removably connected to theinterior of said first tube adjacent said annular flange thereof to sealthe area enclosed by said one open end portion of said first tube fromthe space en-' closed by the remainder of said first tube, said annularpassageway between said first and second tubes serving to conductmaterial washed away by said fluid in said one open end portion of saidtube away from said one open end portion of said tube.

2. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, incombination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted tobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, saidwall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube achamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent said tubeon the outside thereof and communicating with said chamber for leadingfluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of saidchamber and to form within said chamber a mixture of the fiuid andloosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on theoutside thereof and communicating with said chamber to carry awaytherefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground; and removable covermeans located at said bottom end of said tube for temporarily coveringsaid bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from saidchamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground fromentering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced throughsaid elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after said cover meansis removed and simultaneously with the removal of said elongated tubefrom the hole formed in the ground.

3. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, incombination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted tobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, saidwall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube achamber having an openbottom; conduit means: located adjacent said tubeon the outside thereof and communicating with said chamber for leadingfluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of'saidchamber and to form within said chamber a mix ture of the fluidandloosenedgrcund; duct means also located adjacent said tube onthe outsidethereof and communicating with said chamber to carryaway therefrom themixture of fluid and loosened ground, said duct means comprising aplurality of tubular members extending along the length of saidelongated tube and each being removably connected adjacent one of theends thereof to said chamber; and removable cover means located at saidbottom end of said tube for-temporarily covering said bottom end of saidtube to seal the interior thereof from saidchamber so. as to prevent themixture of fluid and loosened. ground from entering said tube, wherebybuilding material may be introduced throughsaid. elongated tube into theformed tubular hole after. said cover means is removed andsimultaneouslywith the removal of said elongated tube from the holeformed in the ground.

4. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, incombination, an elongated. tube having an open bottom end and adaptedtobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground; saidwall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube achamber having an open bottom, and said wall means being formed with aplurality of spaced openings passing therethrough; conduit means locatedadjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinaldirection thereof and communicating with said chamber through saidopenings in said wall means for leading" fluidto said: chamber to loosenthe ground under said open bottom: of said chamber and toform Withinsaid-chamber a mixture ofthe fluid and loosened ground; duct means alsolocated adjacent said tube onthe outside thereof extending in the1ongitudinal direction thereof and communicating with saidchamber tocarry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground; andremovable cover means located at said bottom end of said: tube fortemporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interiorthereof from. said chamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid andloosened ground from entering said tube, whereby building material maybe introduced through said elongated tube into the formed tubular holeafter said cover means is removed? and simultaneously with the removalof said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

5. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, incombination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted tobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, saidwall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube achamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent saidtubeon the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof,

and communicating with-said chamber for lead-- ing fluid thereto toloosen: theground under-said. open bottom-of said chamber and to: formwithin said chamber a mixture of fluid and loosened. ground; duct means.also. located adjacent. said tube on the outside thereof, extending inthe-longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamberto carry therefrom themixture offluid and loosened ground; and removablecover means located over said bottom end of said tube for temporarilycovering the same to: seal the interior of said tube from said chamberso as to prevent the mixture of. fluid and. loosened ground fromentering said. tube, said removable cover means being in the form of a:plateintegral with said. wall means and: extending. across; said chamberopposite said open. bottom. thereof SO that building material may beintroduced through said elongated tube onto said removable cover meanssimultaneously with the removal 01' said elongated tube from the holeformed inthe. round;

6. An apparatus. as defined in claim: 5' and wherein an annular shoulderis fixedly located on said plate and. within said open bottom end ofsaid tube to align the latterwith said chamber.

7'. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole: in the ground, comprising, incombination, an; elonr gated tube having an open bottom end and adaptedto be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wallmeansassociated with said tube for movement therewith. into. the ground,said wall means forming beyond; said open bottom end of saidelongated;tubeacham'r ber having an open bottom; conduit means locatedadjacentv said tube on the outside thereof; extending in thelongitudinal direction; thereof; and communicating withsaid chamber forlead:- ing fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom ofsaid chamber and to form; within said chamber a mixture of. fluid andloosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on theoutside thereof; extending. in the longitudinal. direction thereof andcommunicate ing with saidv chamber to. carry therefrom: the mixture of.fiuid and loosened ground; and: removable cover means located over said.bottom end of said. tube for temporarily covering the same to seal theinterior of said tube from said chamber so as to prevent the mixture;of: fluid and loosened ground from entering said. tube, said removablecover means being in the; form of. a concrete plate frictionallymountedin the open bottom end of said elongated tube so that buildingmaterial may be introduced through said elongated tube to forciblyremove said concrete plate therefrom and deposit the, latterin, thebottom of the hole formed in. the. ground. while said elongated: tubemay be removed from the hole simultaneously- With. the movement. of.build;- ing material through said; elongated tube.

8. Apparatus for forming a tubularhole; inthe ground, comprising, in,combination, an: elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted tobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means:associated. with. said tube for: movement therewith into the. ground,said wall means forming beyond said open, bottom end of saidelongatedtube a chamber'having an open bottom; conduit meansv locatedadjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinaldirection thereof and communicating with said chamber for leading fluidthereto to loosen the ground under said openbottom of said chamberand toform within said" chamber a mixture of the fluid and loosened ground;duct means also located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof,extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and communicating withsaid chamber to carry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosenedground, said duct means being formed at least in part by the outersurface of said elongated tube; and removable cover means located atsaid bottom end of said tube for temporarily covering said bottom end ofsaid tube to seal the interior thereof from said chamher so as toprevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground from entering saidtube, whereby building material may be introduced through said elongatedtube into the formed tubular hole after said cover means is removed andsimultaneously with the removal of said elongated tube from the holeformed in the ground.

9. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, incombination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted tobe sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, saidwall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube achamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent said tubeon the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereofand communicating with said chamber for leading fluid thereto to loosenthe ground under said open bottom of said chamber and to form withinsaid chamber a mixture of the fluid and loosened ground; duct means alsolocated adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extendin in thelongitudinal direction thereof and communieating with said chamber tocarry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground, said ductmeans being in the form of a tubular extension of said wall meanslocated about said conduit means and said elongated tube; and removablecover means located at said bottom end of said tube for temporarilycovering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof fromsaid chamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened groundfrom entering said tube, whereby building material may be introducedthrough said elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after saidcover means is removed and simultaneously with the removal of saidelongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 and wherein said removable covermeans is in the form of a concrete plate frictionally mounted in thebottom end of said elongated tube so as to be forcibly removed therefromby building material inserted into the hole in the ground through saidelonated tube.

11. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground comprising, incombination, an elongated first tube having an open bottom end andadapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; acylinder of a substantially shorter length than said first tube havingan open end distant from said bottom end of said first tube and an endwall located over said bottom end of said first tube to seal the latterfrom the space within said cylinder, said end wall of said cylinderbeing larger than the transverse, cross sectional area of said firsttube and being formed with a plurality of spaced openings located beyondsaid first tube; a second tube of a larger cross sectional area thansaid first tube located about the latter and said cylinder to form anannular passageway between said first and second tubes, said annularpassageway communicating with the interior of said cylinder through saidopenings in said end wall thereof; and conduit means extending throughsaid annular passageway and said openings in said end wall of saidcylinder to lead fluid to the interior of the latter, said annularpassageway serving to guide material washed away by fluid supplied tosaid cylinder through said conduit means.

EDGARD PICKMAN.

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